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Frithsden Beeches

As well as being a spectacular sight, ‘The Beeches’ is an important area for nature conservation. This particular habitat has evolved due to pollarding, a form of woodland management where the branches were regularly cut from the trees to use as firewood. Branches would be cut from the trunk to around a metre or so off the ground and this would then allow new branches to grow unchecked by browsing animals such as deer, before the process was repeated.

The beech trees have not been pollarded for more than 100 years but are now managed purely for conservation and safety.

These large, unusual shaped trees create a popular set for television and film. Parts of Harry Potter films, Sleepy Hollow and Jonathan Creek have all been filmed at Frithsden Beeches.